The Teacher Insurgency addresses the contextual factors that perpetuated the recent wave of teacher strikes and the dramatic impact this activism has had on American public education, teacher unions, and the larger labor movement. With an eye to maintaining the momentum of the insurgency, Leo Casey examines four key strategic questions that have arisen from the strikes: the relationship of mobilization to organizing; the relationship between protests and direct action; the conditions under which teacher strikes are most likely to be successful; and the importance of "bargaining for the common good." Drawing upon social science and historical literature, Casey outlines four discourses around which teacher activism crystallizes--teaching as nurturance; as professionalism; as labor and craft; and as a vocation of democratic intellectual work--and describes how these can provide the basis for future organizing. "Throughout the country, teachers have been organizing, striking, and speaking up to demand change. Given how little we do to support our nation's teachers, it's hardly surprising and about time. Casey's book looks behind the scenes to analyze the factors that have provoked this movement and the strikes that have accompanied them in 'red' states and 'blue' cities. For those who recognize the importance of teaching and who believe our nation's teachers must be treated fairly, this book will be an eye-opener." --Pedro A. Noguera, dean, Rossier School of Education, University of California, Los Angeles "Leo Casey offers a clear-eyed and inspiring analysis of the recent fights that have mobilized teachers, parents, and their community allies in a remarkable effort to save our schools on behalf of the common good. Informed by Casey's decades as a teacher, organizer, and defender of public education, The Teacher Insurgency dazzles with its wise judgments, historical grounding, and broad strategic vision, as it points the way toward the democratic transformation we so desperately need." --Joseph A. McCartin, professor of history, Georgetown University, author of Collision Course Leo Casey is the executive director of the Albert Shanker Institute, a former public high school teacher, and past vice president of New York City's United Federation of Teachers. Jeffrey R. Henig is a professor of political science and education at Teachers College, Columbia University and editor of Harvard Education Press's Education Politics and Policy series.